Algiers Metro

The Algiers Metro (مترو الجزائر العاصمة) is a rapid transit system that serves Algiers, the capital of Algeria. Originally designed in the 1970s, it opened in 2011 after decades of delays due to financial difficulties and security issues. The Algiers Metro was the second metro system to open in Africa, after the Cairo Metro.

The first phase of Line 1, "Haï el Badr"–"Tafourah-Central Post Office", which had a length of 9.2 km and comprised 10 stations, opened for public service on 1 November 2011. A 4 km extension from "Haï el Badr" to "El Harrach Centre" opened for commercial service on 4 July 2015 after test runs in June.

History
During the 1970s, the promoters of the Algiers rapid transit subway project envisioned a 64 km network. The project was officially inaugurated in 1982, with technical studies completed in 1985. Authorities retained a German company and a Japanese specialist for building the network. The collapse of oil prices in the 1980s considerably affected the Algerian state's ability to continue funding the project. Authorities discussed the possibility of folding the subway development programme into other mass-transit projects but eventually decided to continue with the original Metro program, albeit slowly.

In 1988–89, Algeria awarded construction contracts to two national companies: COSIDER and GENISIDER. Neither was experienced in running large urban transit development projects. Construction encountered financial and political difficulties, with only four stations being constructed in 15 years. Moreover, the Algiers soil is difficult to dig in, and the city's topography is irregular. Work did not advance significantly for many years.

In 1994, the first 450 m long section, called Emir-Abdelkader, was completed. Another 650 m section, connecting the Central Post Office to Khélifa-Boukhalfa, was completed soon after. In 1999, the Metro of Algiers Company (EMA) invited international companies to participate in a tender offering, resulting in two new contractors being added to the project: French Systra-Sgte for project management, and Agéro-German GAAMA for construction and completion, within 38 months, of the civil engineering tasks and earthworks.

In 2003, benefiting from the return of economic stability and improved security, the government increased funding and introduced a new organisational and operational structure.

In January 2006, further changes were introduced to the project, with integrated systems development handed to Siemens Transportation Systems. This included the installation of fixed material, signals and electrification. Vinci was responsible for civil engineering, and the Spanish company Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) was to deliver a new set of rolling stock, including 14 trains of 6 cars each. The network would use the Trainguard MT CBTC technology, which had already been implemented on line 1 and line 14 of the Paris Métro.

System
With a length of 9.2 km, the first section of Line 1 to open included ten stations, connecting Tafourah–Grande Poste to Haï El Badr. Nine of the ten stations are underground with two central tracks flanked by two 115 m long side platforms. Only the Haï El Badr terminus station is on the surface and it has three tracks and two island platforms. In July 2015, this was supplemented by the opening of the 4 km, four-station expansion from "Haï el Badr" to "El Harrach Centre". The system now serves 14 stations, over a total route length of approximately 13.5 km.
 * The El Hamma - Haï El Badr section, with its 4 stations and 17 other works for ventilation and cables was carried out within 38 months. Civil engineering work and rail laying were officially completed on 30 June 2007.
 * The installation and the welding of 23 km of tracks were started in April 2007 by the French company South-western Travaux France (TSO) with the first metro car to be delivered to Algiers by December 2007.

Operations
The total cost of the first phase of line 1 rose to 77 billion DZD (900 million euros), consisting of DZD 30 billion for civil engineering and DZD 47 billion for the equipment.
 * 14 six-car trains are being used. Each train is 108m in length with 208 seats and can transport 1,216 people.
 * The metro line can move 41,000 passengers per hour, the equivalent of 150 million passengers per year, with a headway of under 2 minutes. Trains can travel at speeds of up to 70 km/h, and the line is open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.
 * The metro's daily operation is the responsibility of the RATP Group, which was awarded the contract in August 2007.

Extensions
Invitations to tender were launched for the construction of a 4 km section between Bachdjarrah and El Harrach composed of 4 stations and one viaduct 250 m above the access road to the Ouchaïah Wadi motorway. It opened for public service on 4 July 2015.


 * The Gaama group which carried out the first section quoted 250 million euros including the construction of a multimodal station (subway/train/taxis) at the El Harrach railway station.

Two other extensions to Line 1 had a planned public opening in 2017:
 * a branch line from Haï El Badr to Aïn Naâdja.
 * an extension north from Tafourah Grande Poste to Place des Martyrs